Piney Area Schools

Excerpt from Clarion County History by Peter Clover, 1877: Clarion Co, PA

"I will give you a description of one of our schoolhouses, which was built of round logs and about eight feet high and with five corners, one of which was part of the chimney. Up as high as the mantel board and from that to the square it had four corners and roofed with clapboards and logs laid crosswise to hold on the boards. The building was chincked-as they called it - between the logs and then daubed with clay or mud. The fireplace was a large backwall of stone and the chimney was built out of small poles and clay as high as was required. The floor was laid with hewed puncheon. The upper floor was laid with the same and covered with earth to keep out the cold. The seats were made of long slabs, round side down, and about high enough to prevent the children's feet from touching the floor.

The writing-desks were made by putting sticks in the wall with hooks on the ends and a board laid across. These were placed at an angle of about forty-five degrees. In place of windows, a piece of log was taken out and sticks put across, over which oiled paper was fastened in order to let in light. In such houses we received our education. Our teachers happened to be Scotch-Irish, very fortunate for us, as their accent was rather broad for the English language. Among the first teachers were: Gabriel Glenn, William Kelly, Job Johnson, Joseph Reid, John Ball. Schools were supported by subscription at the rate of six dollars per scholar per year, the teacher boarding around amongst the scholars.

For the benefit of YOUNG teachers I will give the mode of correction. The teacher invariably kept what was called toms, or more vulgarly, "cat-o-nine-tails" all luck being in odd numbers. The instrument of torture was made with an oak stick about twelve inches long to which was attached a piece of rawhide, cut in strips and twisted when wet, and then dried. This instrument was freely made use of for correction- and those thus corrected did not soon forget, some carrying the marks through life. Another-and no less cruel-was a green cow-hide, which I well remember, still carrying marks made by the same.

Comment upon the above is useless, as the words CRUELTY and BARBARITY will suggest themselves to the minds of all who read this.

For text-books we had Dilworth's and the United States speller and our readers were the good old Bible and Testament. The Western Calculator was all the arithmetic that was in use, and the one who got through the "rule of three" was called tolerably good in figures and the lucky wright who got through the book was considered a graduate in mathematics. Grammar and Geography were not taught in common schools, being considered higher branches."

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The first school-house in Piney township was built of logs in 1837. It stood where the "eight-square" schoolhouse now stands. About the same time a school-house was erected in the Mast district. These rude log structures were replaced about two years later by better and more comfortable buildings.

The Means school-house was built about 1826. The No. 6, Sligo, and others of the township were built later. In 1832 an M. E. Church was erected near Curllsville, on land now owned by E. M. Lee. Mount Pleasant Church was built in 1854 by the M. E. congregation, and the Shamburg Church was built in 1871-72 by the Brethren in Christ. The ministers noted in Callensburg sketch have all preached at Mount Pleasant. The M. E. Church had congregations at Sligo and at Madison. They held their services in the schoolhouses at those places. Davis History.

Curllsville School was originally a two-story wooden structure. Following its destruction by fire, a one-story brick building took its place in the center of town, across from where Grace Community Church now stands.

Licking School stood on the outskirts of town where classes began in an early log structure.

Another rural one-room school, the Mast School, was located in Belltown. (If you have any history or photos on this school, please email me. Mast School was in operation during 1947 thru 1953 for sure and was seated on what is now Huckleberry Ridge/McEwen Road intersection. During 47-53, the teacher was Mrs. Leola Moyer, she lived in Clarion. The school had two outside toilets and there was a coal heated pot belly stove in the middle of the room for heat. There were 28 students. Benton Nulph was also a teacher at Mast Schoolhouse.

Two schools were in the Sligo vicinity around 1871, one in what is now Methodist Hall. The other was located on the Ben Miller farm. In 1875 a two-room school was built to which additions were made until in 1924, a four year high school course was offered. As the school progressed, need was felt for a more modern building, and Sligo High School was thus erected in 1927. The Logue Memorial Auditorium was added about 1930. Prior to the building of the Methodist and the Presbyterian churches (1872-73), services were held in the one room school building. At one time the Catholics met on the fourth floor of the brick store. The Nazarene and the Church of God were since established.

One of the early schools that educated Piney Twp. residents was the Stoney Lonesome School (also known as the Turney School), positioned across from the Clarion County Home at the SR68/Curllsville Rd intersection. The photo above was taken circa 1919. Kate Reitz, in a June 2005 Leader-Vindicator piece, recalls attending her 1st through 4th grade years at the Turney School. She remembers a large rock out front where they would sit to eat their lunch on warm days. The school had one row for first graders, two rows for 2nd graders, one row for 3rd graders, and one row of fourth graders at the time of her attendance. Ruby (McKinney) Siehl was her teacher.

Ed Myers also attended the Stoney Lonesome School from 1956-1958 with Ruby Siehl as his teacher. Ruby was extremely strict, as he recalled. She always wore long dresses with her hair tied in a bun. He remembers being driven to school on occasion in his dad's coal truck, prior to the time his parents became local bus drivers. The big rock outside that they all ate lunch on is still there (2005). He remembers that they used to hang our feet over the edge of it and watch the cars go by just a few feet away. If one fell off, he would have landed on the road (can you imagine that today - no child-proof fences?). The school had the chalk boards along the whole front wall with the alphabet above it - students had to take the erasers outside every day and beat them off and wipe down the boards. It could be difficult to complete your work when she was teaching the other two classes in a open room,. but on the other hand it could help because students were also receiving review and/or advanced material at the same time. Students would daily go across the yard to Victor McCall's house and carry water back in a five gallon milk can that was used for everyone the entire day. During his school years there, it was usually Ed and Larry Shook who would go for water (try that in 8 inches of snow when you're 7). There was a coal stove that the teacher would let students tend to from time to time. Students had to go out in the cold and try and dig loose the frozen coal and bring in, but they usually took turns doing that. The school also had an outside toilet.

Teachers then were obviously given much more leeway in disciplinary measures than teachers of today. It wasn't unheard of for children with foul language to have their mouths washed out with soap, being cracked with rulers for infractions as simple as writing with the wrong hand, forced to carry home feces in their lunch sacks after they'd had an accident from being denied a potty break, etc. Sometimes parents would address the teacher (perhaps even threaten them) personally if some forms of discipline did not cease.

I'm sure teachers had their hands full with students, too. Clyde Myers recalled a time when in boyish orneriness, they would wait until everyone was outside for recess and throw coal at the school bell. Of course, students inattentive to their behavior would hear the bell ringing and tear off into the school, only to be sent back outside by an angry instructor. On another occasion, a boy had come to school handing out money to his friends. Apparently, the money was to be used for a suit that his brother didn't end up getting, so he had taken the money from home and handed it out amongst his classmates. His father later came to school and the boy took off down the hollow. The other boys who had to return the money chased him down. Pack finally gave up the flight, but it's said that he emerged from the hollow having taken quite a beating.

Homer Edwin Myers (1899-1972) served as Piney Twp. School Director for 35 years.

Piney Twp area schools

Lonesome Stoney School

(a/k/a Turney School)

Route 68 Sligo/Curllsville

Original Sligo High

PHOTOS

Click above to view more vintage photos of Sligo schools and students/staff.

Read School News Articles

Visit UHS’ website

UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT

Miscellaneous facts:

The average length of the term in the county, in 1844, was four months; the average salary of male teachers was $14.39, and of female teachers, $7.30. The number of schools was seventy-four. In 1850 the number of schools had increased to 119, but a decrease in length of term to three and one-half months was reported, while the teachers' salaries had risen to $16.90 and $8.26 for males and females respectively. In some districts teachers were paid in grain, and the miller was made collector, taking from the cereals brought to the mill by farmers, in addition to the customary toll, an amount equal in value to the tax levied for school purposes on the property of each citizen.

In his first report (1854) as county school superintendent, Mr. Robert W. Orr states that "in the greater part of the county, schools of one kind or other are enjoyed from four to eight months in the year." The statistical reports for several years show an average of only three months' public school. He also mentions as the greatest obstacle, in the way of carrying out efficiently the common school system, a want of qualified teachers. He reiterates this assertion in succeeding reports. In the superintendent's report for 1855 he mentions as obstacles, in the way of progress in the schools, lack of interest on the part of the people, and too low an appreciation of the value of education; want of uniformity of textbooks; wretched condition of school-houses; no school apparatus (some houses had not even a black-board); want of well-qualified teachers. "The most hopeful sign of all is that the idea is beginning to prevail .... that the common schools ought to be greatly improved, and that the qualifications of the teachers must be elevated."

During the 1859, Piney Township teachers were hired in six-month terms, the pay rate being about $30/month for advanced rooms.

The civil war bore heavily upon the people, and the schools suffered in consequence from short terms and low teachers' salaries. Hitherto a majority of the teachers were males, but many young men enlisted as soldiers, and for the first time in the history of our schools the female teachers outnumbered the males, and they have held a majority ever since.

In 1871, two schoolhouses were in Sligo. One later housed the Methodist Hall, the other was located on the Ben Miller farm.

1942 The County faced a critical teacher shortage, caused in part by a ban on hiring married teachers. Another problem was unavailability of school buses.

The original Sligo High School was a two-story building that stood near where the Methodist church now stands. It was demolished and replaced with the brick school in 1927 (photos above), located along Route 68 in Sligo. The Logue Auditorium was added about 1930. Much of the original brickwork in the basement of the building is stamped from Finzer Clay Co., Sugar Creek, Ohio. Finzer was later purchased by Belden Brick. The building now houses the Recreation Center, municipal offices and various shops and is still in use today for a wide range of community events. If you are a graduate of Sligo High, please check out the Sligo High Alumni website listed on the menu.

Early School Employees in Piney Township

Name, Residence, Position, Verified Yr of Employ & Notes.

Berrean, Anna E., Piney Twp. Teacher 1900. Sligo Borough in 1930. Single. Teacher.

Berrean, Phyllis M. - Sligo. Single. Teacher 1930.

Burns, Alice—Curllsville 1870

Burns, Stephen Duncan - Piney Twp. Teacher 1850. Married, age 35.

Burns, Thomas - Piney Twp. Teacher 1870.

Callen, Helen M. (Henry) - Sligo. Teacher 1930.

Coleman, Della - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Colwell, Bernice A. Sligo. Teacher 1920

Colwell, Maude - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Colwell, Ollie - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Coulter, Margaret - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Craig, Bert - Sligo. Teacher 1900

Craig, Herman Elliott - Sligo. Teacher 1930. Also served as school board member for the Union School district.

Craig, Lizzie - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Craig, Robert Nelson - Piney Teacher 1837-1840. Served as school director, examining applicants for schools in the area.

Eshbaugh, Nellie R. - Sligo. Teacher 1930. Wife of John.

Fleming, H.G. —1951 Social Studies & Coach. Sligo High.

Fockum, Lydia L. - Piney. Teacher 1880. Age 19.

Forsythe, William J. - Sligo. High School Teacher 1930.

Hahn, Agnes R. - Sligo. Teacher 1930

Hale, William - Piney. Teacher 1870.

Hall, William L. - Piney. Teacher 1870.

Hartman, miss — 1951 Sligo High. Commercial teacher.

Hartman, Dorothy Emma (Cornell) - wife of Harrison A. Hartman

Hartman, Harrison A. - Sligo. High School Teacher 1910-1939.

Hazlett, Elva M. - Sligo. Teacher 1900-1920. Never married. Taught school in Pittsburgh, PA., until her death in 1931.
Henry, Mary M. - Sligo. Teacher 1930.

Hepler, Martha—Cherry Run 1895-1897.

Hetrick, Mr. —Principal of Sligo High. 1951

Howard, Margaret C. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Howard, Mary T. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Johnston, Mabel E. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Kester, Nancy — Mathematics teacher. Sligo High. 1951

Keys, Eleanor J. - Sligo. Teacher 1930. Single

Kirk, Prof. — Curllsville late 1800’s (probably Means school house)

Lerch, Eva M. - Sligo. Teacher 1920.

Lerch, Luella - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Lerch, Myra L. - Sligo. Teacher 1910.

Logue, Lepha Leola - Sligo. Teacher 1930+. Married George James Heeter in 1931.

Maclay, George Lashells—Teacher in Sligo.

Maclay, Samuel - Piney. Teacher & Student 1877

McCauley, John - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

McElravy, Marjorie — Sligo, Teacher 1940’s.

Mohney, Edward - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Morrison, Minerva S. - Sligo. Teacher 1910.

Moyer, Leola—Clarion. Teacher of Mast School during late 1940’s, early 1950’s.

Murray, Ruth M. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Myers, C.E. —English & Library teacher at Sligo High 1951

Myers, Carrie Pearl - Piney. Teacher 1910. Later married Marvin Altman.

Myers, John - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Myers, Mary J. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Neil, Anna L. (Lucas) - Sligo. Teacher 1920.

Neil, Maribel - Sligo. Music Teacher 1920

Newell, Eugenia C. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Nulph, Benton—taught at one-room Mast School house in Piney Twp.

Orr, Robert W. - County Superintendent 1854-*

Over, Maude - Piney. Music Teacher 1910.

Radaker, Herbert—Sligo High

Rankin, Bertrella E. - Piney. Teacher 1920.

Rankin, Harry - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Reese, Ivan L. —taught Sligo High in 1920’s.

Richards, Anna L. - Piney. Teacher 1910

Rush, John M. - Sligo. Teacher 1900-1910

Rutherford, John W. - Sligo. Teacher 1910

Salyards, Gertrude - Sligo. Teacher 1900

Schuman, Joan O.—Sligo High Economics teacher 1951

Scott, W.A. —Sligo High Music & Latin teacher 1951

Siehl, Ruby D. (McKinney) - Piney. Teacher abt 1930-1955. Teacher at Stoney Lonesome School

Silvis, Anna - Sligo. Teacher 1900.

Skinner, Gladys I. - Sligo. Public School Teacher 1930.

Slaughenhaupt, Walter—Sligo grammar school teacher in 1939.

Smith, Bessie A. - Piney. Teacher 1910.

Stone, Miss (Sligo, 1929).

Summerville, Blanch D. - Piney. Teacher 1910.

Switzer, Beulah G. - Sligo. Teacher 1930.

Texter, George W. - Sligo. School Janitor. 1930.

Thorne, Georgia E. - Piney. Teacher 1930. Unmarried.

Wassum, Claude Roy - Piney. Teacher 1910.

West, Hugh S. — Sligo High Teacher abt 1926

Wiser, Kate - Piney. Teacher abt 1880-1890 at Turney (Stoney Lonesome) School.

Wilson, Blanda I. - Sligo. Teacher 1920.

Wilson, Myrtle V. - Sligo. Teacher 1930.

Young, Ivan— Teacher at Sligo High (1951 yearbook photo). Retired from Union High (Rimersburg)

Schools that served the Piney Twp. residents

Blair School (Sligo) 41.006'N 79.432'W—Rt. 861 to Blair Rd.

Browns School (Monroe Twp) 41.034'N 79.439'W—located near intersection of Sled Rd. and Hollow Rd. abt 2 miles from Reidsburg toward New Bethlehem.

Cherry Run School (Sligo) - late 1890’s.

Five Points School (Sligo) 41.122'N 79.433'W—located at intersection of Kline Rd, Route 68, 5 Point Rd, and Borowick Rd.

Independence School (Sligo) 41.088'N 79.382'W—Rte 839 (S Reidsburg Rd) to Sheridan Rd.

Males school (Porter Twp) 41.071'N 79.414'W — located on Curllsville Rd.

Mast School (Piney Twp) - located on what is now Huckleberry Ridge, Sligo.

Means School (Curllsville)

Reigle School (Sligo) 41.056'N 79.470'W — located on Reigle School Rd. off of Rte. 68 between Curllsville/Rimersburg.

Scrub Ridge (Sligo) 41.068'N 79.439'W — located on Kelly Rd.

Turney School (Lonesome Stoney) (Piney Twp) - located across from County Poorhouse on Rt. 68, Sligo.

Watson School (Sligo) 41.079'N 79.498'W —Rte 68 to Huey Rd. to Carwick Rd.

VIEW PHOTO ALBUM OF SLIGO VICINITY SCHOOLS

Ivan L. Reese

Sligo High Teacher 1920’s

Photo courtesy of Clayton Harriger

Hugh West & Harrison Hartman

Teachers at Sligo school

Photo courtesy of Clayton Harriger

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Above: Photos of the school and Logue Auditorium annex at the former Sligo High.

2009 Renovations to gymnasium (Logue Auditorium)

HISTORY

Clarion Co. - P. Clover 1877

Piney Twp Historic Photos

Western PA Old Photos

1828 Fox Hunt

1887 Toby’s 67th anniv. Of 4th of July with Fox Hunt

CCC 2323-SCS-5-Pa

Clarion Co. Historical Society (Facebook)

INDUSTRY

Misc. Industrial History

HISTORIC MAPS

Piney Twp (1) (2) [1877]

Sligo Boro [1877 Atlas]

Churchville [1877 Atlas]

Geological Description of Clarion Co. [1885]

PA Survey Map 1791

SCHOOLS

Piney Twp School History

NEWS (HISTORIC)

NEWS (CURRENT)

Sligo Today (Ireland)

MILITARY

RESIDENTS

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Clarion County Home

Clarview & Country Springs

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Wills & Death Certificates

Clarion Co. Marriages

News 1869; 1877-1893

Clarion Co. Marriage Licenses

Clubs/Organizations

Lady Priscilla Rebekah Lodge

Civil Conservation Camp1930’s]

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